Popcorn dispensing device



y 16, 1939- R. B. HILLS ET AL 2,158,119

POPCORN DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Nov. 30, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l Russell 7mg;

Human E. 'Pleasanl E a May 16, 1939. R. B. HILLS ET AL 2,158,119

POPCORN DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Nov. 50, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 l I WW" 3 H n 5 2b #QAW n I )5 2'5 I I 20 3/ i 7 21 27 l 24- 2a Ru se '15. HH s Herman ETkasanT y 1939- R. B. HILLS ET AL 2,158,119

POPCORN DI SPENS ING DEVICE Filed Nov. 30, 1938 s Sheets-Sheet 3v n. ammllll lll I ihvevflims 'RusseH Zbfiifls Herman I 'PleasaflT I Amy;

Patented May 16, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE POPCORN DISPENSING DEVICE Russell B. Hills and Herman E. Pleasant. Grand Rapids, Mich; said Pleasant assignor to said Hills This invention relates in general to dispensing machines but has its particular adaptation to dispensing popcorn, and due to the peculiar nature of the popcorn itself the machine must be especially designed for this purpose.

In view of the fact that the nature of the popcorn does not permit it to be dispensed by the use of ordinary mechanism embodied in machines of this nature, it has become necessary to construct and embody certain elements not heretofore employed in vending machines. It has been determined that the usual fiat horizontal rotatable disc used in dispensing machines will not operate satisfactorily to dispense popcom because of the fact that the popcorn has a tendency to bridge itself over the opening through which it is to be dispensed, and to obviate this difliculty certain changes in structure have become necessary such as the provision of a rotatable disc mounted angularly with respect to the bottom of the container. It is therefore a particular object of our invention to provide a dispensing machine which is particularly adapted to dispense popcorn.

A further object of the invention is to provide openings in the bottom member and the rotatable disc which are adapted to register with each other at certain positions of the disc.

Since it is necessary that these openings be in close contact with each other and since the rotatable disc is mounted at an angle to the horizontal, it is a further object of the invention to provide a downwardly extending hub around the opening in the disc so that there will be a continuous channel between said opening and the opening in the bottom member.

It is another object of the invention to provide certain means to urge the inclined disc toward the bottom so that the lower edge of the hub will be maintained in contact with the upper surface of the bottom, especially during the actual dispensing operation.

A still further object of our invention is to provide means to maintain a covering for the opening in the bottom when the two openings are not in register with each other.

Other objects and purposes of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and following description set forth in detail certain means for carry- 56 ing out our invention, said means constituting,

however, but one of various ways in which the principle of our invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views: .6

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of our dispensing machine.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section through our device showing the openings of the disc and bottom member in alinement with each other. 10

Fig. 3 is an under plan view of the device.

Fig. 4 is an inverted perspective View of the inclined rotatable disc.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through a modified form of the invention, and 1 1 I Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken substantially on the plane of line 66 of Fig. 5.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the device is made up generally of a container I and a bottom member 2 which have 20 located therebetween a comparatively short cylindrical member 3. It may be here noted that in View of the difliculties encountered in drawing out a bottom member, the sides of which would extend upwardly a very great distance, 25 the short cylindrical member 3 has been interposed between the bottom and main portion of the container and its lower edge is inserted within the edges of the bottom. member and secured thereto such as by welding or any other desired 30 means. The upper edge of the member 3 has a return bent portion 4 thereon and is adapted to have disposed thereagainst the rib 5 of the container I, all as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

A plurality of legs 6 are secured at their upper ,35 ends to the outer surface of the bottom 2 in spaced apart relation to each other and serve as supporting means for the container. The bottom 2 has an opening 1 therein for the purpose of emitting the popcorn and has a surrounding 40 flange 8 thereon. Within the container and adjacent the bottom is a rotatable disc 9 which is inclined at an angle with respect to the horizontal bottom 2. This disc also'has an opening l0 therein of the same size and shape as the 5 opening in the bottom, and extending downwardly from said opening is a hub or flange II.

In one position of the rotatable disc 9 the opening I0 is adapted to register with the opening I in the bottom member so that any popcorn within the container will be free to drop through the respective openings into a receptacle placed beneath said openings.

An arcuate plate l2 partially surrounds the opening I0 and the hub II to form the flange l3, 5

the remainder of which extends outwardly from said hub and is adapted to completely cover the opening 1 when the two openings 1 and H] are out of alinement with each other as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Since the hub extends downwardly and terminates in the horizontal plane of the upper surface of the bottom 2, and the arcuate plate I2 is in the same plane as the bottom edge of the hub, the plate l2 will also be in close contact at all times with the upper surface of the bottom 2. Since the plate I2 is secured to the hub ll formed integral with the disc 9 it will move therewith as said disc is rotated so that when the two openings 1 and I0 are in alinement with each other the plate |-2 will have been moved to one side, whereas, when the disc 9 is rotated to move the opening [0 out of alinement or register with the opening 1 the arcuate'plate l2 will cover the opening I, thus preventing any of the contents of the container from being removed therefrom. v 7

The arcuate plate l2 has a curved supporting member l3 extending between itself and the disc 9 and a smaller member l4 extending therebetween each for the purpose of supporting said plate l2 and holding it in place. Also as an aid to support the disc 9 in an inclined position the supporting member 15 is'p'laced thereon, the bottom edge l6 of which is adapted to slide over the upper surface of the bottom 2.

Extending vertically downwardly from the center of the rotatable disc 9 is a hollow member II which has a flange I8 thereon and at its lower end 'is provided with diametrically opposed openings I9 the purpose ofwhich w'illbe hereinafter more fully described. Theb'ottom 2 also has a central opening therein through which the hollow member I'! is adapted to extend. Extending upwardly from the bottom member and immediately surrounding said central opening is the shoulder member 20 on which the flange i8 is adapted to rest. 7

A handle member 2| is provided, which is prefefably made "of a spring material, and which has its inner end extendingthrough'the diametrically opposed openings I 9 and a cotter pin'22 is utilized to secure "the handle in place. The outer end of the handle member extends beyond the edge of thecont'ainer and is formed into a loopas at 23. 'It will therefore be seen upon moving the hahdle'memb'er laterally, its connection with the vertical member l'l will cause aro'tation of the disc 9'. Guidemeans are secured to the outer side of the bottom 2 as shown "in Fig. 1 and consi'st ef' a lower horizontal member'M which is curved 'upw'ardly at one end as at 25, and 'an'upperhori'z'ontalmember 26, and'the handle member 2| extends between these upper and lower horizontal members. 'The upwardly "curved portion f acts as 'a stop "for the handle 2| iii one direction and one of the legs 6 to which one end of the members 24 and 26 is secured acts as a stopto limit the movement 'of the handle inthe opposite direction. p

Inasmuch as 'itis "preferable to maintain the hub 'II in contact with the edge "of the opening I to provide a continuous channel for the emission of the material within the container, it is necessary to provide some means to urge the dis'c' '9 toward the bottom member 2. 'We have been able to'efi'ect this result in a number of ways. One isby the provision of a compression spring 21 interposed between the inner "endof the hanare 2|"-and the bottom member 2'and surrounding =tl1e' -verticaJ member "I1. Since the handle is connected to the member H, which member is in turn permanently secured to the disc 9, the downward force of the spring 21 will exert a downward pressure of the disc 9 to thereby maintain a contact between the flange 13 of the hub 5 H and the upper surface of the bottom 2.

Another means which we provide to aid the 7 spring 21 in eflecting this result is the manner of V positioning the handle 2|. Since it is made of a spring material preferably and its inner end is 1 secured to the vertical member l1, its outer end is forced downwardly in order that it may pass between the horizontal guide members 24 and move downwardly will also transmit this tendency 25 to the disc 9. We therefore have not only the compression spring 21 but also the handle member 2| cooperating to urge the disc 9 downwardly so that the flange l3 and the arcuate plate I2 will be in constant contact with the upper sur so face of the bottomZ.

It is very desirous that the portion of the handle member which extends outwardly beyond the edge'of the container be in substantial alin'ement with the center of the opening l0. It is also necessary, of course, that the inner end of the handle be in alinement with the center of the opening l0 because it passes directly'through the center of the disc 9. Furthermore, if the handle were to extend directly across the open- 46 ing In it would interfere with the'dispensing of the popcorn in view of its comparatively large size. To obviate this difliculty we have'preferred to extend the handle member 2| at approximately its centenoutwardly' in the form of a substantial i semi-circle as at 28 in Fig. 3.

In the modification of the device shown in Figs. 5 and 6, this represents a construction which is much more economical to manufacture,

but operates in substantially the same manner. 6

In *Fig. 5the flange 8 has been omitted and the handlemember Zia is situated'in close proximity to the bottom 2 and substantially parallel there-' with. The handle terminates at its outer end in the form of a circle 23a which is verysimilarto 55 the end 23 more clearly shown .in Fig. '3. Near its-outer end the handle 2|a abuts against the bottom of the container at its upper side and only a single cross-piece 24a is utilized. It is alsotobe noted'that this particular construction 59 omits the spring 2'! and has in its place a plate or annular flange 5| and the slightbend in the handle member 2|a may aid in maintaining the hubin-close-contact'with the bottom 2. In this particular form we have'also desired to-ex- 3 tend the flange l3 entirely around the arcuate disk I2 so that its section in Fig. 5 is denoted by the numeral l3a. 7 It will-be obvious that it is much .more important'that the hub H be in close contact with the 0 bottom 2 when the openings are in alinement and during the dispensingoperation and for this reason "an angle member 5| issecured to the side of the container tilted at an angle'to the vertical equivalent to the angleat which the in- In this posi- 5 Here again it will be seen that 20 clined disk 9 is disposed with respect to the horizontal so that the arm 52 of angle is disposed at the same angle to the horizontal as the inclined disc 9. This angle member is so situated that as the disc is rotated to bring the openings into alinement, the arm 52 contacts the disc 9: and acts not only as a stop means but also has a wedging action which tends to force the disc 9' downwardly in this position so that no space is. allowed to remain between the bottom 2 and the edge of the hub II. The portion of the disc 9 which is contacted by the stop means is flexible in a direction parallel with its axis of rotation.

The operation of the device is explained as follows:

The device as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 show the respective openings 1 and [0 out of register and in this position the arcuate plate l2 covers entirely the opening I. When the contents of the container are to be dispensed, the handle 2| is moved toward the left as viewed in Fig. 1 which will register the openings l0 and I and allow the contents of the container to drop through the respective openings and the channel formed by the hub II and the flange 8. When a sufiicient amount has been removed, the handlewill be returned to its original position as shown in Fig. 3 wherein the opening 1 is completely covered by the bottom plate l2.

It is to be noted that the inclined disc 9 actually serves two purposes. The first is that it prevents the popcorn from bridging across the opening 10, which has been proven to happen by the use of a horizontal rotating disc; and the second is that it enables all of the contents to be removed therefrom, thus obviating any necessity for tilting the container in its entirety in order to remove the last few pieces. Although this in itself would not present a very great difficulty, the present construction enables the container to be suspended on a wall, which would prevent its being tilted, but still permit the removal of all of the material from the container.

From the above explanation it will be seen that we have constructed a dispensing machine which is particularly well adapted to dispense popcorn despite its peculiar characteristics, and at the same time, equally useful for dispensing other material. The device is easily operable and economically manufactured and serves admirably the purpose for which it is intended.

Other modes of applying the principle of our invention may be used instead of the one here explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed provided, however, that the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

We, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim, as our invention:

1. A dispensing machine of the class described comprising, a container, a bottom secured thereto having an opening therein, a disk within said container mounted angularly with respect to said bottom for rotative movement, an opening in said disk adapted to register with the opening in said bottom, and means for rotating said disk.

2. A dispensing machine of the class described comprising, a container, a bottom secured thereto having an opening therein, a disk within said container mounted angularly with respect to said bottom for rotative movement, an opening in said disk adapted to register with the opening in said bottom in one position of said disk, means to cover the opening in the bottom when the respective openings are not in register, and means for rotating said disk.

3. The combination of elements defined in claim 2, combined with a hub around the opening in said disk, said means to cover the opening in said bottom including an arcuate plate extending horizontally from said hub and movable with said disk.

4. A dispensing machine of the class described comprising, a container, a bottom secured thereto having an opening therein, a disk within said contain-er mounted angularly with respect to said bottom for rotative movement, an opening in said disk having a hub extending downwardly therefrom adapted to register with the opening in said bottom, a handle for rotating said disk, and means connecting said handle and said disk whereby the lower edge of said hub is pressed firmly against the upper surface of said bottom.

5. A dispensing machine of the class described comprising, a container, a bottom secured thereto having an opening therein, a disk within said container mounted angularly with respect to said bottom for rotative movement, an opening in said disk adapted to register with the opening in said bottom, a handle for rotating said disk, and means between said handle and said disk for urging said disk toward said bottom.

6. A dispensing machine comprising, a container, a bottom secured thereto having an opening therein, a disk mounted angularly with respect to said bottom for rotative movement, an opening in said disk adapted to register with the opening in said bottom, another opening in the center of said bottom, a vertical member extending through said central opening having its upper end secured to said disk, a flange extending around said vertical member adapted to contact the upper surface of said bottom, a handle having one end extending outwardly beyond the edge of said container and the other end secured to the lower end of said vertical member for rotating said disk, and spring means between said handle and said bottom to urge said disk toward said bottom.

"I. The combination of elements defined in claim 6, combined with horizontal guide means for said handle, said handle being formed of spring material and positioned with respect to said guide means and said vertical member to urge said vertical member downwardly, whereby said handle aids said spring means in urging said disk toward said bottom.

8. A dispensing machine comprising, a container, a bottom secured thereto having an opening therein, a disk mounted angularly with respect to said bottom for rotative movement, an opening in said disk adapted to register with the opening in said bottom, a hub surrounding said last named opening and extending downwardly therefrom, an arcuate plate integral with said hub and extending horizontally therefrom and movable therewith to automatically cover the opening in said bottom when said openings are not in register, and means to rotate said disk.

9. The combination of elements defined in claim 8, combined with means cooperatively associated with said last named means to urge said disk toward said bottom, whereby said hub and plate will be continuously pressed against the upper surface of said bottom.

10. A dispensing machine comprising, a container, a bottom secured thereto having an opening therein, a disk mounted angularly with respect to said bottom for rotative movement, an opening in said disk having a hub extending therefrom 'adaptedto register withxthe opening-in said bottom, a central opening in said bottom, a vertical member extending downwardly through said central opening and having its upper end secured to said disk, a-shoulder on the upper "surface of said bottom surrounding said central opening, a flange on said vertical member adapted'to'contact the upper side of said shoulder, a handle having one end extending beyond the edge of said container and the other end secured to said vertical member, and spring means located between said handle and said bottom, whereby said handle and spring means urgesaid disk downwardly to maintain the lower edges of said hub in contact with said bottom.

11. The combination of elements defined in claim 10, and an arcuate. plate forming a flange about the lower edge of said hub and extending laterally from one side thereof to cover the opening 'in the bottom when the respective openings in the bottom and disc are not in register.

12. A dispensing machine comprising, a container, a bottom secured thereto having an opening thereon, an inclined disk mounted within said container for rotative-movement, an opening in said disc adapted .to registerwith the openirfi in said bottom, means'for rotating said disc, and means mounted on the inside of said container adapted to contact saiddisc after it has been rotated through a predetermined angle to thereby prevent said disc from being further rotated and at the same time to force said 'disc downwardly by means of :awedging action.

13.'The combination of elements defined in claim 12 wherein said last named means includes an angle having one of its arms extending therefromimmediately above said inclined disc and disposed at an angle to the horizontal equivalent to the angle at which said disc is disposed to the 

